noticing joy on the surface of simple things … the evidence of holiness happening in the daily grind.

The Hubby and The Ham Balls May 16, 2014

Disclaimer for my vegetarian/vegan friends: the following contains material of the meat type. In no way is it meant to offend or gross you out.

The Vitamix earned its keep. Today it ground up the last of my ham.

I’ve owned this bad boy for approximately 6 weeks. The majority of its life in the DeGroot household has been spent pulverizing seeds, blending fruit, and smoothie-ing kale and spinach into our breakfast (pictured below). The Vitamix came with a recipe book which I’ve read more than once. Most recipes take less than 5 minutes which means a fresh batch of hummus for a snack, lunch, or appetizer is always an option. Because the hummus is so delicious and simple, garbanzo beans show up on my grocery list all the time. That is, until I came home with 2 more cans and when I put them away I realized I already had 6.

“Settle down with the garbanzos now Laura.” I know I know. I always want more of a good thing and got a little crazy with chick peas.

The Hubby has had his eye on the Vitamix for some years. Not a new one, but the one that he could possibly inherit. Thankfully, the relatives who own said Vitamix are in great health. No impending inheritance… So I suggested we save up our “funny money” & birthday money to buy our own. The Hubby immediately labeled an envelope, we accumulated the funds, and recently purchased the item our children now can inherit! (But not for MANY years girls).

I can’t decide if this marvelous machine is a toy or a tool. Either way it is a creative outlet and helps me live out my love language: “Love people; Cook them tasty food.”

Back to the ground up ham. I did a small batch at first. Used the pulse button on level 5. I didn’t want to make ham glue. When I poured…shook…well, kinda poured-shook-scooped the ham out onto a plate I felt like something special happened in my kitchen. I threw a little into my almost scrambled egg. I gave Pekoe the cross-eyed kitty a few bits in her bowl. Calvin ate them. I gave Pekoe a few more bits in her bowl. (Rabbit trail…Pekoe will only eat wet food. All her 11 years of life – no dry, no cat treats, however she loves ham and pancakes. Cats Are Weird.) I did give Calvin one ham chunk even though he stole Pekoes. And then I talked to the ham. “I just don’t know what to do with you yet.”

I might be lonely. Or just really excited about making my own ground ham.

Grandma Rozie came to mind. She used to make such good meat. That may be where my affinity for things made with ground ham started. Ham salad, like tuna or chicken salad, was pretty common in the midwest, best served on a soft squishy buttered white bun. Even better was ham loaf, like meat loaf, with BBQ sauce on top. And then there are the ham balls. Ummmmmmm. My mouth is watering right now. They too are baked with a sweet and sour or BBQ sauce of some type and because of their shape, every bite comes with sauce.

The credit for the idea to use the Vitamix to grind up that ham goes to…….The Hubby! He suggested it in hope of getting some hamballs. I debated, I procrastinated, I almost gave up and just sliced it. So why the emotional drama over meat?

I was afraid it wouldn’t work and I would end up with nasty ham paste, a clogged up Vitamix, and wasted time. That’s the truth. Ridiculous fear in this profoundly mundane thing of life. Truthfully, fear (ridiculous or not) often has a stronghold in the somewhat and profoundly difficult things of my life too often. I’m working on a project about fear Knots and fear Nots. My hope is to discover, then have as my own, tools and truths to fight and conquer fear and anxiety.

I will reach a mile marker this year – getting half way to one hundred. Some people when facing this age, set goals and train for triathlons, conquering high mountains or long bike journeys. My goal is to live the second half of my life un-afraid. I’m training for that. On my desk are notecards with 34 of the 365 verses where Scripture says “do not be afraid/anxious/worried.” These are some of the tools and truths I hope to understand and use to run my race.

And, like I share the wonder of the Vitamix, I hope to share what I learn about what it takes to live un-afraid.

Back to the ground up ham. I think I know what I’m going to do with it. Its time to call mom for a ham-ball recipe. Hubby, this is your lucky day.